Ernst paul rjessner



(No Model.)

B. P. RIESSNER. DAMPING DEVICE FOR MUSIC BOXES.

Patented Oct. 15, 1895.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR zmfiq W/Z/ m? E,

flflaw x, m @Arroflnns.

HAN/m. PHOTO-UTNQWASHINGTDl M UNITED STATES ERNST PAUL RIESSNER,

OF LEIPSIC, GERMANY.

DAMPING DEVICE FOR MUSIC-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,892, dated October 15, 1895.

Application filed May 14, 1895- To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ERNST PAUL RIESSNER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Leipsic, Waahren, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Damping Devices for Music-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference letters and numerals indicate similar parts in the various views.

My invention relates to damping devices for music-boxes of the type known as side dampers, and is more especially designed for that character of musicbox wherein starwheels are employed to vibrate the musictongues, such star-wheels being operated from a note plate or cylinder or such other equivalent operating device. Heretofore in musicboxes of this character where side dampers were used it has been common to employ a metallic damper, wherein the metalportion thereof comes into direct contact with the vicrating tongue to damp the same. This has been found objectionable, inasmuch as the two metallic surfaces-that is to say, the musictongue and the metal dampen-coming in oontact with each other while the former is in vibration causes a burring sound or noise to be produced, which is objectionable.

The object of my invention is to provide a damper which will overcome these objections, or to produce a damper wherein its application to the music-tongue while in vibration can be had without producing .this objectionable sound.

To this end my invention consists in a damper for music-boxes wherein an elongated flexible strip of fibrous material is employed to reach contact with or bear directly on the music-tongue'to damp the same and to such arrangements and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of sufiicient number of parts to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1, the parts to the left of the line 2 2, Fig. 1, being omitted to more clearly illustrate my invention. Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the parts being in a Serial No. 549,241. (No model.)

different position. Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the parts are in a different position or coincide to the location of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A represents the vibrating music-tongues, each of which is operated in the ordinary manner by a star-wheel or other rotating device a. A damper B is interposed between the star-wheel and a musictongue and is adapted tobe operated by the star-wheel in a manner which will hereinafter appear. This damper consists of a mainspring body portion b, preferably of metal, which is mounted in any suitable manner and is provided with a cam 17, adapted to be projected into the path of the teeth of a starwheel by the spring body portion of the damper. The body portion of this damper is also provided with clamps w, preferably struck up therefrom, in which clamps is secured afiexible strip of fibrous material 0. This strip of fibrous material may be made of celluloid, whalebone, or any other such suitable fibrous material and is projected from the clamps to a considerable extent, so as to allow ofa slight movement of such fibrous strip independent of the main body of the damper. It is obvious when I refer to the use of fibrous material in constructing my damper that I mean material, such as celluloid, which has body and resiliency enough to produce the desired damping effect without being worn through by the action of the music-tongue in vibrating against the same.

In the drawings, which represent one form of my invention, it will be observed that the cam b and the fibrous strip 0 are carried on independent arms 01 of the damper and are projected to opposite faces of the star-wheel.

dependent damper operated by such starwheel for damping the music-tongue.

The operation of my device is as follows:

Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the music-tongue has just been vibrated by a tooth 1 of the starwheel, then it will be observed that a further rotation of such star-wheel will bring the tooth 3 into contact with the cam Z) on the damper, and in forcing it together with the spring body portion of the damper to one side it will bring the flexible free and unsupported end of the strip of fibrous material 0 into contact with the side of the tongue and damp the same without the slightest noise. A further rotation of the star-wheel will bring the tooth 2 into position to vibrate the tongue, and the tooth 3 will pass off of the cam, allowing the damper to assume its normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be observed that by my invention I provide an independent side damper, wherein the flexible fibrous strip contacts with the side of the vibrating tongue, and at the same time a metal portion is provided on said damper to take the wear occasioned by the starwheel in forcing the damper into operative position, so that the -fibrous strip is subjected to no wear except such as is occasioned by its contact with the music-tongue.

While I have referred throughout to tWo clamps for securing the fibrous strip to the body portion of the damper, it is obvious that any suitable number and any suitable character of clamp might be employed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 In a musical instrument, the combination of a music tongue, a rotating device for operating said music tongue, a damper controlled by said rotating device, said damper having an elongated flexible strip of fibrous material projecting therefrom, the free and unsupported end of said fibrous material being adapted to reach contact with the side of the music tongue and damp the same, substantially as described.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination of a music tongue, a rotating device for operating said music tongue, a damper controlled by said rotating device, the body portion of said damper being constructed of metal, and an elongated flexible strip of fibrous material projecting therefrom, the free and unsupported end of said fibrous material being adapted to reach contact with the side of the music tongue and damp the same, substantially as described.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of a music tongue, a rotating device for operating said music tongue, a damper controlled by said rotating device, the body portion of said damper being constructed of metal and provided with clamps, an elongated flexible strip of fibrous material secured in the clamps of said body portion and projecting therefrom, the free and unsupported end of said fibrous material being adapted to reach contact with the side of the music tongue to damp the same, substantially as described.

4. In a musical'instrument, the combination of a music tongue, a rotating device for operating said music tongue, a damper controlled by said rotating device, the body portion of said damper being constructed of metal and provided with clamps, and having a cam thereon, an elongated flexible strip of fibrous material secured in the clamps of said body portion and projecting therefrom, the free and unsupported end of said fibrous material being adapted to reach contact with the side of the music tongue to damp the same, when a tooth of the star-wheel contacts with the cam on the body portion of the damper, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNST PAUL RIESSN ER.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH FRIOKE, OTTO DOEDERLEIN. 

